Telia Company announces managerial changes

29 May 2018 | James Pearce

Telia has overhauled its management team, naming a new CEO of Telia Sweden, a new COO and a new head of its units in Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark.

Anders Olsson, who currently serves as SVP, COO and head of Global Services and Operations (GSO) has been named EVP and CEO of Telia Sweden. He is replacing Telia Company CEO Johan Dennelind, who has served as acting CEO of Telia Sweden since Hélène Barnekow resigned in April.

Olsson has spent more than 20 years in the telecoms industry, including a stint at Tele2 where he was a member of the group executive management team, before he joined Telia in 2016.

Olsson said: “It was an easy decision to say yes to Sweden’s most exciting job within telecom. I’m really looking forward to continuing the great work the Swedish organization is doing to create a new generation telco.”

Olsson will be replaced as head of GSO and COO by Telenor Norway CTO Magnus Ztterberg, who will join Telia no later than October. Zetterberg has more than 25 years of telecoms experience, having held positions including the CTO and CEO of 3GIS.

Dennelind: “I’m very happy that Anders has accepted to head our Swedish operations. We need a strong execution focus on our strategic agenda with a continued transformation program and culture building paired with strong cost focus and commercial drive.

“I am glad that we have great succession internally for such an important role. I’m also very pleased to welcome Magnus Zetterberg to Telia Company. Magnus’ deep understanding of our line of business is a most welcome addition to our company and to GSO.”

In another change announced by the Swedish telco, Henriette Wendt – who currently heads up its operations in Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark – will leave her position on 1 June. Wendt has been with Telia since 2014 according to her LinkedIn, when she joined from Swisscom. She has also held roles with BT and Motorola.

As head of group corporate development where she oversaw the creation of Telia’s new generation telco strategy and ensured the implementation of an integrated sustainability strategy, Dennelind said, thanking her for her time with the company.

Wendt will be replaced by Emil Nilsson who currently serves as SVP and head of region for Eurasia. Nilsson will also continue to lead Telia’s operations in Eurasia.

“Emil has done an outstanding job in maintaining focus in our Eurasian assets while we have been in divestment processes at the same time. I welcome Emil into the new role and look forward to his future contributions in the creation of a leading integrated operator in the Nordics and Baltics,” added Dennelind